Key Quotes:

"The Hebrew word emunah , often translated simply as “faith,” really means faithfulness, fidelity, loyalty, steadfastness, not walking away even when the going gets tough, trusting the other and honoring of the other’s trust in us."

This passage, along with the previous source, offer R. Sacks’ definition of emunah as “faithfulness, fidelity, or loyalty.”

Sacks sees the essence of faith not in cognitive agreement to certain assertions. He sees it primarily in an attitude, a stance when facing the world. It is not so much about belief in a particular truth claim, as much as it is about a commitment to a way of living that stems from (a risky and unprovable) sense that what we do with our time on earth matters.

Here's what students will take away from this source:

• According to Rabbi Sacks, emunah - "faith" - is not about "belief," but instead connotes an attitude of commitment and fidelity, even in the face of uncertainty or hardship.

What things are we loyal to? What does that fidelity consist of? Think of friends, family members, a school, favorite sports team - what makes us loyal to these things? Where does that loyalty come from? What actions stem from loyalty? What would disqualify someone as loyal?